Tourists and more tourists

I don't remember a single report of misbehavior on the part of any Japanese tourists back then. Even if the Internet existed at the time, I believe there wouldn't have been much to discuss. Of course, the Japanese population is much smaller than China's, and most of those Japanese tourists were relatively well-educated urbanites. In addition, they weren't predominantly the only children in their families and they didn't behave like little emperors and empresses. The money Chinese tourists spend is well-loved, but sadly, there's been so much unfavorable media about them that they may be viewed with a certain level of apprehension and suspicion by locals. And frankly, the bigger tour groups stand out. Just as American tourists traveling overseas can stand out like a sore thumb (flip flops, halter tops, sweat pants, beer bellies, gum-chewing), so can Chinese (what they buy, how much they buy, how loud they are, gaudy clothes).

I lived in Japan for many years. There, people obey the law. They have a healthy respect for authority figures. They're very disciplined. That's why, after the Fukushima catastrophe, looting and criminal behavior were not a problem. In China, it seems people are always trying to skirt the law. Traffic regulations are routinely flouted, people cut into line, yell at each other in public, and worse. So maybe it isn't surprising some Chinese do the same wherever they go. Despite signs asking them not to urinate on the grass, spit in public, put their feet in drinking fountains, cook instant noodles in coffeemakers, whip out their selfie sticks, etc. Decency is not something you can take for granted from that subset of tourists.

It's true that such people damage the image of China when they behave inappropriately. Will the government travel blacklist curb their misbehavior? Their better-behaved countrymen, women, and their government are all right to be concerned (but Chinese officialdom is not exactly the perfect role model and sewage does tend to flow downhill).

The original blog is at: http://blog.chinadaily.com.cn/blog-1303276-30764.html